Electronic copy sender

ABSTRACT

A series of pockets are stacked in tiers forming pigeon holes designed for receiving and holding printed material deposited therein from a central area known as the distribution station. Passage through each of said pockets is prevented by means of a movable gate. Remote operation of said gate sequentially releases the contents of each pocket onto a conveyor belt moving behind the tiers. The gates are operated by persons remotely located in positions along the conveyor belt. One of the tiers of pockets is given priority over the remaining tiers. A photo-electric means senses the presence of printed material within these priority pockets and switches sequential control from the regular pockets to the priority pockets whereupon printed material is distributed to users from the priority pockets. The photo-electric system switches control back to regular pockets upon completion of the priority sequence picking up where the regular sequence was interrupted.

United States Patent Long Apr. 15, 1975 1 1 ELECTRONIC COPY SENDER [75]Inventor: James Long, Orlando, Fla. ABSTRACT [73] Assigns:2 SentinelStar companborlando, m A series of pockets are stacked in tier s formingpigeon holes designed for receiving and holding printed mate- [22]Flledi July 1973 rial deposited therein from a central area known as[21] Appl 379,141 the distribution station. Passage through each of saidpockets is prevented by means of a movable gate. Remote operation ofsaid gate sequentially releases the [52] US. Cl. 221/12; 221/112;221/124; Contents of each pocket Onto a conveyor belt moving 221/129behind the tiers. The gates are operated by persons re- [51] hit. ClB65h 43/08 motel), located in positions along the Conveyor belt [58]Fleld of Search 221/12 One of the tiers of pockets is given priorityover the 221/124? 2/1241 223 remaining tiers. A photo-electric meanssenses the presence of printed material within these priority [56]References Cited pockets and switches sequential control from the regu-UNITED STATES PATENTS lar pockets to the priority pockets whereuponprinted 818,296 4/1906 Rule 221 90 material is distributed to users fromthe priority P 2,006,390 7/1935 Gebert et al. 221/90 ets. Thephoto-electric system switches control back 3,371,821 3/1968 Abood, Jr.et a1... 221/129 X to regular pockets upon completion of the priorityse- 3,529,745 9/l970 Freeman 81 al quence up where the regular sequencewa in- Primary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant ExaminerDavid A.Scherbel terrupted.

13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures WENTEBAPR 1 1915 3,877. 607 SHEET 1 2ELECTRONIC COPY SENDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention The present invention relates to electromechanical systems fordistributing written material along a conveyor belt to proofreadersand/or typists, and more particularly to a system for sequentiallyaccomplishing such distribution.

2. Description of the Prior Art The idea of automatically dispensingmaterial from a matrix of inclined ramps onto a conveyor belt assemblyfor distribution to remote points is not new. For example, US. Pat. No.2,952,195 Faulkner discloses and discusses such a system for dispensingpackages or the like. The Faulkner system is designed to dispense sucharticles in a selected pattern from an array of storage bins. Anotherexample of the use of a conveyor assembly in association with a rack ofstorage spaces is US. Pat. No. 3,624,792 Lipfert. The Lipfert apparatusprovides for selected dispensation of material from individual storageracks in accordance with a decimal coding system keyed to each row andcolumn of the storage racks. These systems, similar to the presentdevelopment in some respects, have found their major application inareas of inventory retrieval. For such an application it is necessary toinitiate release of the items in inventory to the conveyor belt inaccordance with some predetermined coding system or inventory storagesystem. The present development, however, differs from that of the priorart in that its application is in the distribution of written materialon a first in, first out basis. In the distribution of written materialcertain material must frequently be given priority over other materialand there is therefore a need for a priority system for distributingthis priority material with preference over other material to typists orproofreaders. The present development fulfills both the need for firstin, first out distribution and the need for priority distribution byproviding a system for sequentially distributing written material tovarious points within a room while at the same time distributingselected material with preference over normally handled materials. Thisability to distribute material sequentially along with the ability totransfer control from normally distributed material to speciallydesignated material forms the basis for distinguishing the presentdevelopment from the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention,an electric copy sender for sequentially distributing written materialhas been designed comprising a group of tiers placed side by side eachhaving a series of pockets into which written material is inserted andheld for subse quent sequential release. Remotely operable transducerscontrol the release of written material from the pockets. A series ofstepping switches select one transducer from an array of transducers foroperation. A photo-electric cell associated with one of the tiers ofpockets operates a priority switching circuit which interrupts thenormal sequence in favor of a priority sequence when a light beam isbroken by paper inserted in the priority tier. The normal sequence isresumed from the point of interruption when the priority sequence iscomplete. A transport system carries written material released frompockets to remote points within the area of operation.

Thus, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide ameans of sequentially distributing written material to typists,proofreaders, or the like along a conveyor belt.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an efficient meansof assigning priorities to various pieces of written material forsubsequent proofreading or typing.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a means ofassigning priority to various pieces of written material so that saidpieces of written material can be proofread or typed with preferentialtreatment over other material.

Still another object of the present development is to provide a means oftransferring from a normal operating mode to a priority mode andautomatically reverting back to the normal mode, picking up the sequencewhere it had originally been interrupted.

These and other objects. advantages and other features of the presentinvention will hereinafter appear, and for the purpose of illustration,but not for limitation, exemplary embodiments of the present inventionare illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1, is an isometric view of therear ofa single tier of pockets showing the incline shelves, gatingmeans, and solenoid location.

FIG. 2, is a cutaway of one of the pockets and its associated bearingmounted gating means and solenoid in the rest position.

FIG. 3, is the same pocket as that of FIG. 2 with its associated gatingmeans and solenoid in the activated position.

FIG. 4, is a skematic representation of the electrical circuitryincorporated in the present development.

FIG. 5, is a skematic representation of the stepping motor controlcircuitry of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to FIG.1, pocket module 5 comprises rectangular housing and shelf support 6forming a box structure housing and supporting a series of inclinedpocket shelves 11. Pocket shelf 102 and pocket shelf form the top andbottom respectively of pocket 107 which is bound on its sides byrectangular housing and shelf support 6. Paper 19 is inserted intopocket 107 from the front 16 of the module 5 and prevented from slidingthrough pocket 107 by gate 103. Gate 103 is movably mounted at the ends113 of its upper edge 111 in bearing block 10. Electric solenoids 7 arerigidely mounted to rectangular housing and shelf support 6 by solenoidbracket 8 and operably connected to the bearing mounted gates 12 bysolenoid piston and lever linkage 17.

In normal operation, paper 19, inserted from the front 16 of the module5 into pocket 107, is prevented from sliding off incline shelf 105 bybearing mounted gate 103. Referring to FIG. 1, as solenoid 98 isenergized, the solenoid piston linkage 17 causes gate shaft III torotate within bearing block 10 until gate 103 is in its second or openposition.

The operation of exemplary slot 107 is illustrated in more detail inFIGS. 2 and 3. In FIG. 2, paper 19 is inserted into pocket 107asindicated by arrow 106. The paper 19 rests on pocket shelf 105 and urgesup against pocket gate 103 which is movably mounted at its ends 113 inshaft end bearings 118. As solenoid 98 is energized. solenoid piston 21is drawn into solenoid 98 pulling lever arm 20 in the direction ofsolenoid 98 thereby causing gate 103 to assume its second position shownin FIG. 3. As gate 103 assumes its second position shown in FIG. 3,paper 19 is allowed to slide out of pocket 107 through the opening 22created between gate 103 and the lower edge of the shelf 105 and fall toa conveyor for distribution to some remote point.

The priority module or tier is identical to the module 5 of FIG. 1except that the shelves of the priority module define a series of holes18 shown in FIG. 1 to allow a light beam 108 generated by light source13 and focused by lense 14 to pass through the holes 18 to thephoto-cell 15. In normal operation the solenoids 7 are energized one ata time beginning at the top of each tier and proceeding to the bottom ofeach tier. This normal sequence of operation is interrupted by insertionof paper in one of the priority pockets. As illustrated in FIG. 2, paper19 inserted in a priority pocket breaks light beam 108 therebyinitiating electrical switching operations for transferring control fromone of the regular tiers to a priority tier as will be described in moredetail below. As the paper 19 slides through opening 22 shown in FIG. 3,light beam 108 is allowed once again to fall on photo-cell initiatingswitching operations to transfer control back to normal sequence.

Referring to FIG. 4, release of paper in the regular mode of operationfrom the electric copy sender is initiated by depressing push-button 53located at the desk of a typist or proofreader. Depressing push-button53 allows current to pass along line 56 to relay 84 which closes switch55. Closed switch 55 allows current to energize relay 85, which closesswitch 86 thereby engaging three second timer 91. Current flowing fromthe three second timer back along path 92 insures that relays 84 and 85remain energized after push-button 53 is released thereby holdingswitches 55 and 86 closed for the full three second timing period.Current flowing from the three second timer 91 is also allowed to passthrough normally closed relay switch 80 along current path 57 energizingrelay 93 and opening normally closed switch 99 and passing current toline 58. Current line 58 carries current to each of the steppingswitches 1 through corresponding to pockets 1 through 30 of threeten-shelf modules identical to the module 5 of FIG. 1. These threemodules are used for normal distribution of written matter in thepreferred embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, stepping motor 50, drivingstepping switches 1 through 15, is in its initial or starting positionwith switch 1 corresponding to solenoid 1 closed for operation of thegate corresponding to pocket 1. Energizing solenoid 1 opens gate 1emptying pocket 1 to the conveyor belt whereupon three second timer 91switches off, cutting current flow along path 92 to relays 84 and 85thereby opening switches 55 and 86 respectively. As will be explainedsubsequently with reference to FIG. 5, stepping motor then moves to itsnext position closing stepping switch 2 corresponding to solenoid 2.Stepping switch 50 continues to advance with each subsequent pressing ofpush-button 53 releasing the contents of the corresponding pockets 1through 15 in sequence until stepping motor 50 reaches its 16th positioncorresponding to switch 98 whereupon it energized stepping motor 51 byclosing switch 98. Stepping motor 51 advances one position openingpreviously closed switch 96 and closing switch 16. Stepping motor 5]follows a sequence of operations similiar to that of stepping motor 50sequentially energizing switches 16 to 30 until it reaches its last or16th position corresponding to switch 96 which, when closed,re-energizes stepping motor 50 starting the 30 step sequence over again.This operation continues time and time again until paper is inserted inone of the priority pockets.

As paper is inserted in one of the priority slots, the light beamfalling on photo-cell 61 is broken causing normally open photo-cellswitch 94 to close allowing current to pass from the source to point 97and on through normally closed switch 99 to energize relay 62. In thepriority mode as push-button 53 is depressed relays 84 and 85 areenergized closing switches 55 and 86 respectively engaging three secondtimer 91 as described with reference to the normal mode. Current passesalong line 92 back to relays 84 and 85 holding switches 55 and 86 closedfor the three second time interval. With relay 62 energized, however,normally closed switch is open and normally open switch 81 is closedallowing current to pass along current path 82 energizing relay 83thereby closing switch 95. Thereafter the current traveling alongcurrent path 82 continues along current path 100 to priority steppingswitches 31 through 40. Stepping motor 52 is shown in its initialposition with stepping switch.3l closed allowing current following alongcurrent path 100 to pass through priority solenoid 31, releasing thecontents of pocket 31 to the conveyor belt.

As the three second timer 91 goes off, current ceases to flow to relays84 and 85 along path 92 and switches 55 and 86 open, ending thesequence. If paper remains in the priority pockets, the light beam tophoto cell 61 remains broken and normally open photo-cell switch 94remains closed so that subsequent depressions of switch 53 will continueto advance stepping motor 52 and release material in sequence from thepriority pockets. When no more paper remains in the priority pockets,light again falls on photo-cell 61 allowing photo-cell switch 94 to openand switch 80 to close, thereby switching the circuit back to its normalsequence. As will be explained with reference to FIG. 5, duringoperation of priority gates 31 through 40, stepping motors 50 and 51 donot advance resulting in resumption of the normal sequence at the pointwhere it was initially interrupted by the photo-cell over-riding.

circuitry.

The circuit of FIG. 4 is designed to handle two problem situations whicharise in the distribution of material. The first involves the insertionof paper in one of the priority slots when the circuitry is in itsnormal mode of operation after push-button 53 has been depressed. Thiscontingency could cause normally closed switch 80 to open prior tocompletion of the three second time interval and the selected solenoidgate to close before the material has been released. This problem issolved in the present development by relay 93 and its correspondingswitch 99. Normally closed switch 99 is caused to open as relay 93 isenergized. When switch 99 is in its open position no energy can flow torelay 62 as photo-cell switch 94 closes and switch 80 must thereforeremain in its closed position insuring that the normal operation is notinterrupted during the three second interval. In operation. relay 93 isenergized the instant the three second timer begins passing current toswitch 80. If the light beam to photocell 61 is broken thereafter,closing normally open photo-cell switch 94, current flowing from the Ivolt A.C. source to point 97 cannot reach relay 62 because switch 99 isopen. As the three second timer falls off. however, energy ceases toflow to relay 93 and switch 99 closes. This allows current to flowthrough photocell switch 94 energizing relay 62 in wait of the nextoperation of pushbutton 53.

The second potential problem arises when the last sheet of paper isremoved from the priority pockets during the three second interval inpriority sequence allowing light to fall upon photo-cell 61, therebyopening photo-cell switch 94. This chain of events could cause switch81, closed during the priority operation, to open during the threesecond time interval. Relay 83 and the corresponding switch 95 avoidthis difficulty in the present invention. As energy begins to flow fromthe three second timer 91 through switch 81, closed in priorityoperation, relay 83 is energized by current passing along current path82 thereby closing normally open switch 95 and holding switch 95 closedas long as current passes along current path 82 i.e. for the threesecond interval. In this state, the opening or closing of photo-cellswitch 94 has no effect on the current flowing from the 1 10 volt A.C.source to relay 62 because current is allowed to bypass the photo-cellbranch and flow through switch 95 to point 97. This insures that thecircuit remains in priority operation through the full three secondinterval even through the last sheet of paper is removed from thepriority pocket allowing light to once again fall on photo-cell 61opening photocell switch 94. As three second timer 91 falls off, energyceases to flow through switch 81 along current path 82 to relay 83 andswitch 95 is allowed to open. With switches 94 and 95 open switch 81opens closing switch 80 causing the system to revert back to normaloperation and resume the sequence where it was initially interrupted.

The circuitry for advancing stepping motors 50, 51 and 52 is seen inFIG. 5. Before beginning operation, prior to pressing button 53 shown inFIG. 4, switches 55 and 86 corresponding to relays 84 and 85respectively of FIG. 4 are open. Switches 80 and 81 corresponding torelay 62 of FIG. 4 are closed and open respectively. As button 53 ofFIG. 4 is depressed switches 55 and 86 of FIG. 5 are closed, asdescribed above sending current along current path 112 of FIG. 5 andthrough switch 96 advancing stepping motor 50 one step. After threesecond timer 91 falls off, switches 55 and 86 are open again asdescribed with references to discussion of FIG. 4 operation. Steppingmotor 50 is advanced one step with each depression of input switch 53until stepping motor 50 causes its corresponding stepping switch toreach its 16th position shown as switch 98 in FIGS. 4 and 5. As steppingmotor 50 closes switch 98, stepping motor 51 is energized and advancedone position thereby opening previously closed switch 96 temporarilyremoving stepping motor 50 from the circuit. For the next 16 operationsof the circuitry, current passing along current path 112 passes throughswitch 98 advancing stepping motor 51 one 6 opening switch 98. Thus,stepping motors 50 and 51 are alternately caused to proceed in asequential fashion through 16 steps. This circular operation ofthecircuitry causes pocket gates 1 through 30 to open in sequence returningto gate 1 after pocket 30 has been emptied. This sequence of operationis interrupted only by insertion of paper in a priority pocket which. asdescribed above, breaks the light beam falling upon photo-cell 61 andshifting the sequence to priority pockets. Paper inserted in thepriority pocket breaks the light beam falling on photo-cell 61 causingphotocells switch 94 to close energizing relay 62 of FIG. 4. Thissequence of events opens switch and closes switch 81 shown in FIG. 5thereby blocking input current to stepping motors 50 and 51 and causingpriority stepping motor 52 to advance one step with each incomingelectrical pulse. Stepping motor 52 continues to operate one step at atime releasing copy contained in pockets 31 through 40 in sequence,reverting back to pocket 31 after releasing the copy from pocket 40.When the last piece of written matter is removed from priority pockets31 through 40 and three second timer 91 falls off, switch 80 closes andswitch 81 opens causing subsequent input impulses to follow alongcurrent path 112 advancing either stepping motor 50 or stepping motor 51depending upon the condition of switches 96 and 98 respectively.

Thus, it can be seen from the preceeding detailed description of thepreferred embodiment, that the present invention teaches a means ofsequentially distributing material to remote points and further providesa simple means of handling priority matter.

There are of course many possible alternative cmbodiments of the presentinvention. Various additional changes, modifications, and variationscould be made in the arrangements, operation and details of theconstruction of the elements disclosed herein without departing from thespirit and the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An electronic copy sender for sequentially distributing materialcomprising:

holding means for receiving and holding material for subsequent release;

releasing means for releasing material from said holding means, saidreleasing means having a first and a second position, said firstposition for preventing release of material from said holding means, andsaid second position for allowing release of material from said holdingmeans;

transducer means for moving said releasing means from said first to saidsecond position in response to an electrical signal and for moving saidreleasing means from said second to said first position upon terminationof said electrical signal;

control means comprising an electronic circuit having a set of advancingmeans for advancing a series of switches, said advancing means beingconnected for alternate operation for sequentially selecting one of saidreleasing means and directing said electrical signal to the selected oneof said releasing means;

signal means for sending electrical signals to the selected one of saidtransducer means thereby operating said releasing means, releasingmaterial from said holding means.

2. An electronic copy sender for sequentially distributing materialsubstantially as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said holding means comprises a series of pockets each having four sidesand a moveable gate forming a back closure.

3. An electronic copy sender for sequentially distributing materialsubstantially as claimed in claim 2 wherein:

said releasing means comprises a series of moveable gates eachcorresponding to one of said pockets and hinged to said holding meansfor movement relative to said holding means.

4. An electronic copy sender for sequentially distributing materialsubstantially as claimed in claim 3 wherein: a

said transducer means comprises a solenoid operably connected to saidreleasing means by mechanical linkage for moving said releasing means toits second position in response to an electrical signal and forreturning said releasing means to its first position upon termination ofsaid electrical signal.

5. An electronic copy sender for sequentially distributing materialsubstantially as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said signal means comprises a series of push buttons remotely locatedwith respect to said holding means for individual remote operation ofsaid releasing means.

6. An electronic copy sender for sequentially distributing materialsubstantially as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means furthercomprises:

an electronic circuit having a photo-electric means for sensing thepresence of material in certain designated pockets and automaticallyinterrupting the regular sequence for transferring sequential controlwhen material is present in said designated pockets,

an electronic circuit having a photo-electric means for sensing theabsence of material in said designated pockets and automaticallytransferring sequential control back to said regular sequence resumingsaid regular sequence where originally interrupted.

7. An electonic copy sender for sequentially distributing materialsubstantially as claimed in claim 6 wherein said photo-electric meanscomprises:

a photo-cell positioned along the center line of a series of holesdefined by the shelves of the pockets of said holding means forreceiving light from a light source also positioned along said centerline.

8. An electronic copy sender for sequentially distributing materialsubstantially as claimed in claim 6 wherein said advancing meanscomprises stepping motors, and said control means further comprises:

at least one relay for preventing said electronic circuit fromtransferring sequential control from said regular sequence to saiddesignated pockets during pendency of the system time interval; andfurther, from transferring sequential control from said designatedpockets to said regular sequence during pendency of the system timeinterval.

9. An electronic copy sender for sequentially distributing writtenmaterial comprising:

tiers of inclined shelves forming pockets for receiving and holdingwritten material, passage of said written material through each of saidpockets being LII ' 8 blocked by a movable gate so that written materialdeposited in one of said pockets is held pending displacement of themovable gate associated with said one of said pockets;

solenoid means for displacing said movable gate, said solenoid meansresponsive to electrical signals initiated by manually operableswitches;

primary and secondary sequential switches, driven by advancing meanssaid sequential switches for selecting sequentially a certain one ofsaid movable gates pending operation of said manually operable switches,said secondary sequential switches for sequentially selecting amongregular gates, said primary sequential switches for sequentiallyselecting among priority gates;

photo-electric means for sensing the presence of written material insaid priority pockets and switching control to said priority pockets,said photoelectric means for automatically shifting selection from saidpriority gates to said regular gates upon completion of removal ofwritten material from said priority pockets.

10. An electronic copy sender for sequentially distributing writtenmaterial substantially as claimed in claim 9 wherein:

said movable gates comprise rectangular grids movably attached to saidtiers of inclined shelves by bearings at the ends of said movable gates,said rectangular grids having first and second positions, each of saidmovable gates being tight against the lower edge of its correspondinginclined shelf in said first position and being substantially parallelto said inclined shelf in said second position, said first position forholding written material in said pockets, said second position forallowing said written material to slide off said inclined shelf and outof said pocket.

11. An electronic copy sender for sequentially distributing materialcomprising:

holding means for receiving and holding material for subsequent release;

releasing means for releasing material from said holding means, saidreleasing means having a first and a second position, said firstposition for preventing release of material from said holding means, andsaid second position for allowing release of material from said holdingmeans;

transducer means for moving said releasing means from said first to saidsecond position and for moving said releasing means from said second tosaid.

first position; control means for sequentially selecting one of severalof said transducer means for sequential operation of said releasingmeans said control means having a photo-electric means for sensing thepresence of material in certain designated pockets and automaticallyinterrupting the regular sequence transferring sequential control to apriority sequence when material is present in said designated pockets,and for sensing the absence of material in said designated pockets andautomatically transferring sequential control back to said regularsequence resuming said regular sequence where originally interrupted.12. An electronic copy sender for sequentially distributing materialsubstantially as claimed in claim 11 wherein said photo-electric meanscomprises;

. 10 cuit from transferring sequential control from said regularsequence to said designated pockets during pendency of the system timeinterval; and further. from transferring sequential control from saidpriority sequence to said regular sequence during pendency of the systemtime interval.

1. An electronic copy sender for sequentially distributing materialcomprising: holding means for receiving and holding material forsubsequent release; releasing means for releasing material from saidholding means, said releasing means having a first and a secondposition, said first position for preventing release of material fromsaid holding means, and said second position for allowing release ofmaterial from said holding means; transducer means for moving saidreleasing means from said first to said second position in response toan electrical signal and for moving said releasing means from saidsecond to said first position upon termination of said electricalsignal; control means comprising an electronic circuit having a set ofadvancing means for advancing a series of switches, said advancing meansbeing connected for alternate operation for sequentially selecting oneof said releasing means and directing said electrical signal to theselected one of said releasing means; signal means for sendingelectrical signals to the selected one of said transducer means therebyoperating said releasing means, releasing material from said holdingmeans.
 2. An electronic copy sender for sequentially distributingmaterial substantially as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said holding meanscomprises a series of pockets each having four sides and a moveable gateforming a back closure.
 3. An electronic copy sender for sequentiallydistributing material substantially as claimed in claim 2 wherein: saidreleasing means comprises a series of moveable gates each correspondingto one of said pockets and hinged to said holding means for movementrelative to said holding means.
 4. An electronic copy sender forsequentially distributing material substantially as claimed in claim 3wherein: said transducer means comprises a solenoid operably connectedto said releasing means by mechanical linkage for moving said releasingmeans to its second position in response to an electrical signal and forreturning said releasing means to its first position upon termination ofsaid electrical signal.
 5. An electronic copy sender for sequentiallydistributing material substantially as claimed in claim 1 wherein: saidsignal means comprises a series of push buttons remotely located withrespect to said holding means for individual remote operation of saidreleasing means.
 6. An electronic copy sender for sequentiallydistributing material substantially as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidcontrol means further comprises: an electronic circuit having aphoto-electric means for sensing the presence of material in certaindesignated pockets and automatically interrupting the regular sequencefor transferring sequential control when material is present in saiddesignated pockets, an electronic circuit having a photo-electric meansfor sensing the absence of material in said designated pockets andautomatically transferring sequential control back to said regularsequence resuming said regular sequence where originally interrupted. 7.An electonic copy sender for sequentially distributing materialsubstantially as claimed in claim 6 wherein said photo-electric meanscomprises: a photo-cell positioned along the center line of a series ofholes defined by the shelveS of the pockets of said holding means forreceiving light from a light source also positioned along said centerline.
 8. An electronic copy sender for sequentially distributingmaterial substantially as claimed in claim 6 wherein said advancingmeans comprises stepping motors, and said control means furthercomprises: at least one relay for preventing said electronic circuitfrom transferring sequential control from said regular sequence to saiddesignated pockets during pendency of the system time interval; andfurther, from transferring sequential control from said designatedpockets to said regular sequence during pendency of the system timeinterval.
 9. An electronic copy sender for sequentially distributingwritten material comprising: tiers of inclined shelves forming pocketsfor receiving and holding written material, passage of said writtenmaterial through each of said pockets being blocked by a movable gate sothat written material deposited in one of said pockets is held pendingdisplacement of the movable gate associated with said one of saidpockets; solenoid means for displacing said movable gate, said solenoidmeans responsive to electrical signals initiated by manually operableswitches; primary and secondary sequential switches, driven by advancingmeans said sequential switches for selecting sequentially a certain oneof said movable gates pending operation of said manually operableswitches, said secondary sequential switches for sequentially selectingamong regular gates, said primary sequential switches for sequentiallyselecting among priority gates; photo-electric means for sensing thepresence of written material in said priority pockets and switchingcontrol to said priority pockets, said photo-electric means forautomatically shifting selection from said priority gates to saidregular gates upon completion of removal of written material from saidpriority pockets.
 10. An electronic copy sender for sequentiallydistributing written material substantially as claimed in claim 9wherein: said movable gates comprise rectangular grids movably attachedto said tiers of inclined shelves by bearings at the ends of saidmovable gates, said rectangular grids having first and second positions,each of said movable gates being tight against the lower edge of itscorresponding inclined shelf in said first position and beingsubstantially parallel to said inclined shelf in said second position,said first position for holding written material in said pockets, saidsecond position for allowing said written material to slide off saidinclined shelf and out of said pocket.
 11. An electronic copy sender forsequentially distributing material comprising: holding means forreceiving and holding material for subsequent release; releasing meansfor releasing material from said holding means, said releasing meanshaving a first and a second position, said first position for preventingrelease of material from said holding means, and said second positionfor allowing release of material from said holding means; transducermeans for moving said releasing means from said first to said secondposition and for moving said releasing means from said second to saidfirst position; control means for sequentially selecting one of severalof said transducer means for sequential operation of said releasingmeans said control means having a photo-electric means for sensing thepresence of material in certain designated pockets and automaticallyinterrupting the regular sequence transferring sequential control to apriority sequence when material is present in said designated pockets,and for sensing the absence of material in said designated pockets andautomatically transferring sequential control back to said regularsequence resuming said regular sequence where originally interrupted.12. An electronic copy sender for sequentially distributing materialsubstantially as claimed in claim 11 wherein said photo-electric mEanscomprises; a photo-cell positioned along the center line of a series ofholes defined by the shelves of the pockets of said holding means forreceiving light from a light source also positioned along said centerline.
 13. An electronic copy sender for sequentially distributingmaterial substantially as claimed in claim 11 wherein said control meansfurther comprises; at least one relay for preventing said electroniccircuit from transferring sequential control from said regular sequenceto said designated pockets during pendency of the system time interval;and further, from transferring sequential control from said prioritysequence to said regular sequence during pendency of the system timeinterval.